THE MORE COMMON AILMENTS OF SHEEP 417 



of iron will furnish these dressings. Later a coating of 

 tar will give protection. Large numbers may be treated 

 by driving them through a trough containing a solution 

 of carbolic acid, one part to 20 to 30 parts of soap and 

 water according to the severity of the disease. 



Broken limbs must be dealt with according to the 

 nature of the break. In the absence of a skilled veterina- 

 rian the aim should be to put the broken limb in place ; 

 then put wet cardboard around, and hold this in place by 

 wrapping with a strong bandage. Splints may sometimes 

 answer the purpose better than cardboard. 



Ailments peculiar to lambs — The ailments peculiar 

 to lambs include: (i) Indigestion; (2) white scours; (3) 

 retention of excrement; (4) wool balls in the stomach; 

 and (5) navel disease. These ills and the treatment for 

 each will now be discussed in due order. 



Indigestion in lambs may result from the food fur- 

 nished to the dams through the influence which it exerts 

 on the digestion of the lamb. It may take the form of 

 constipation, as when the supply of the milk is meager 

 and furnished from foods low in nutrition and lacking in 

 succulence ; or it may take the form of diarrhea from the 

 feeding of foods excessive in quantity and richness. 

 When a lamb previously thrifty shows indications of 

 dumpishness, the presence of constipation is to be sus- 

 pected. The remedy is mild doses of castor oil, or what 

 is preferable, an injection of soapy water. A moderate 

 ration of field roots or of oilcake fed to the dam would 

 probably prevent such a condition, at least in very many 

 instances. 



Scours in young lambs are the outcome of milk unsuit- 

 able or excessive or of germ infection. The result is pro- 

 fuse white-colored evacuations. It seldom takes the epi- 

 demic form, but many instances may occur simultane- 

 ously and from the same cause ; that is from the excessive 

 quantity of the rich milk furnished. When indications of 

 scours appear, the diet of the dams should be reduced and 



